US20160008752A1 - Vertical gas/liquid phase separator - Google Patents
Vertical gas/liquid phase separator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20160008752A1 US20160008752A1 US14/339,513 US201414339513A US2016008752A1 US 20160008752 A1 US20160008752 A1 US 20160008752A1 US 201414339513 A US201414339513 A US 201414339513A US 2016008752 A1 US2016008752 A1 US 2016008752A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- baffle
- tank
- liquid
- gas
- trough portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
- B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
- B01D45/16—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces generated by the winding course of the gas stream, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
Definitions
- This relates to a separator tank for separating a multiphase fluid flow, such as may be used to separate liquid and gases in a stream of production fluids from a hydrocarbon well.
- a separator for a gas stream comprising a vertical tank having a side wall, a top and a bottom.
- the tank has an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank.
- There is a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank the baffle being arranged to define a flow path between the inlet and the gas outlet, the flow path being helical about a central axis of the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, the baffle terminating in a trough potion at a lower edge.
- the upper surface of the baffle may be at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
- a method of separating liquid from gas in a fluid flow comprising the steps of providing a vertical tank having a side wall, a top, a bottom, an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank, placing a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, the baffle terminating in a trough portion at a lower edge, introducing a fluid comprising gas and liquid to the tank through the inlet, flowing the fluid on a helical flow path about a central axis of the vertical tank using the baffle, separating the fluid into the gas and the liquid, the liquid travelling down the upper surface of the baffle into the trough portion, and collecting the gas from the gas outlet and the liquid from the liquid outlet.
- the upper surface of the baffle may be at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the separation tank with a helical baffle.
- FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevation view of a trough portion of the helical baffle.
- FIG. 3 is a detailed side elevation view of an alternative trough portion of the helical baffle.
- a separator for a gas stream generally identified by reference numeral 10 , will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 3 .
- separator it has a vertical tank 12 having a side wall 14 , a top 16 , and a bottom 18 .
- Tank 12 as shown has a curved top 16 and bottom 18 as is common in the art, however it will be understood that tank 12 may be any vertical tank shape known in the art.
- Side wall 14 is preferably a continuous cylinder.
- Tank 12 has an inlet 20 , a gas outlet 22 , and a liquid outlet 24 .
- Liquid outlet 24 is located at the bottom of tank 12 in order to collect separated liquid from tank 12 and has a collection tank 25 with a dump valve that allows liquids to be selectively removed in order to maintain pressure within tank 12 .
- baffle 26 Within tank 12 is a helically arranged baffle 26 .
- baffle 26 is a flat surface.
- Baffle 26 obstructs the flow of the fluid, and is arranged to define a flow path between inlet 20 and gas outlet 22 that is helical about a central axis 28 of vertical tank 12 .
- Baffle 26 has an upper surface 30 that is angled downward from central axis 28 toward side wall 14 .
- upper surface 30 of baffle 26 angles down from central axis 28 toward side wall 14 at an angle ( ⁇ ) of about 30 degrees. This angle may vary to optimize the flow, but is preferably between about 25 to about 35 degrees.
- Baffle 26 terminates in a trough portion 32 at a lower edge 34 .
- liquid that is collected flows down along baffle 26 and side wall 14 toward liquid outlet 24 .
- trough portion 32 is preferably V-shaped, however, trough portion 32 could have any shape useful for collecting fluid and directing its flow, such as a square trough shown in FIG. 3 , or other shapes as will be understood by one skilled in the art. It has been found that the V-shaped channel has some benefits in directing the collected fluids and in connecting to a drain line 38 that may be used as liquid outlet 24 . While it is also possible to have a drain at the bottom of tank 12 , such as is shown schematically in FIG.
- a drain line that trough portion 32 feeds into directly. This reduces the amount of standing liquid at the bottom of tank 12 that may he picked up again by the gas moving through the tank toward gas outlet 22 , which reduces the effectiveness of separator 10 .
- trough portion 32 is designed to connected easily to the drain line. It will be understood that trough portion 32 may change size and shape as it progresses though tank 12 .
- collection tank 25 receives fluid from drain line 38 , second liquid outlet 40 and any liquids that may accumulate in gas outlet 22 .
- baffle 26 As baffle 26 is angled, there is a natural trough that is formed between sidewall 14 and baffle 26 . While a more defined and deeper trough portion 32 helps collect and redirect more liquid, it will be understood that a similar, while less pronounced benefit may be achieved by the natural trough portion that would be formed between baffle 26 and side wall 14 .
- the far side of any trough 32 should be below the point 36 where baffle 26 would normally intersect side wall 14 , as represented by the broken line. It may be possible to define a tough portion 32 that is not below this point, however it will be understood that the effectiveness of the trough will be reduced.
- baffle 26 there may be a section at the bottom of tank 12 that is filled with particulate 44 . This may help to remove any further liquid in the gas stream.
- Separator 10 can be used to separate liquid from gas in a fluid flow.
- a fluid that has both gas and entrained liquid is introduced into tank 12 through inlet 20 , the fluid flows along the helical flow path defined by baffle 26 .
- baffle 26 is angled downward, the fluid experiences two forces. Centrifugal forces act on the fluid as it flows around baffle 26 and the heavier liquid particles are forced away from the gas particles, separating the flow.
- the pressure of the fluid drives the fluid flow down the tank, and the liquid flows into trough portion 32 . This allows the liquid to be collected at the bottom of tank 12 and removed from tank 12 through liquid outlet 24 .
- the gas can also be collected after separation through gas outlet 22 .
Abstract
There is provided a separator for a gas stream. The separator has a vertical tank having a side wail, a top and a bottom. The tank has an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank. There is a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle being arranged to define a flow path between the inlet and the gas outlet, the flow path being helical about a central axis of the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, and the baffle terminating in a trough potion at a lower edge
Description
- This relates to a separator tank for separating a multiphase fluid flow, such as may be used to separate liquid and gases in a stream of production fluids from a hydrocarbon well.
- In order to process production fluids from a hydrocarbon well, it is often necessary to separate the various phases, such as liquid and gases. The separation strategies will depend on the type of well and the composition of the production fluids. However, generally speaking there will be sand, water liquid hydrocarbons, and gas hydrocarbons. Small amounts of other components may be present as well but are not considered here.
- In fluid streams that are primarily gas, strategies are often used to knock out the liquid from the gas stream. Examples of separators that may be used for this purpose can he found in United States pregrant publication no. 20130255206 (McKenzie) entitled “Separator for a Gas Stream” and United States pregrant publication no. 20130255205 (McKenzie) “Separator for a Gas Stream Using a Vortex”.
- According to an aspect, there is provided a separator for a gas stream, comprising a vertical tank having a side wall, a top and a bottom. The tank has an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank. There is a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle being arranged to define a flow path between the inlet and the gas outlet, the flow path being helical about a central axis of the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, the baffle terminating in a trough potion at a lower edge.
- According to another aspect, the upper surface of the baffle may be at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
- According to an aspect, there is provided a method of separating liquid from gas in a fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of providing a vertical tank having a side wall, a top, a bottom, an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank, placing a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, the baffle terminating in a trough portion at a lower edge, introducing a fluid comprising gas and liquid to the tank through the inlet, flowing the fluid on a helical flow path about a central axis of the vertical tank using the baffle, separating the fluid into the gas and the liquid, the liquid travelling down the upper surface of the baffle into the trough portion, and collecting the gas from the gas outlet and the liquid from the liquid outlet.
- According to another aspect, the upper surface of the baffle may be at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
- These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the separation tank with a helical baffle. -
FIG. 2 is a detailed side elevation view of a trough portion of the helical baffle. -
FIG. 3 is a detailed side elevation view of an alternative trough portion of the helical baffle. - A separator for a gas stream generally identified by
reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference toFIG. 1 through 3 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 , separator it) has avertical tank 12 having aside wall 14, atop 16, and abottom 18.Tank 12 as shown has acurved top 16 andbottom 18 as is common in the art, however it will be understood thattank 12 may be any vertical tank shape known in the art.Side wall 14 is preferably a continuous cylinder.Tank 12 has aninlet 20, agas outlet 22, and aliquid outlet 24.Liquid outlet 24 is located at the bottom oftank 12 in order to collect separated liquid fromtank 12 and has acollection tank 25 with a dump valve that allows liquids to be selectively removed in order to maintain pressure withintank 12. - Within
tank 12 is a helically arrangedbaffle 26. Preferably,baffle 26 is a flat surface.Baffle 26 obstructs the flow of the fluid, and is arranged to define a flow path betweeninlet 20 andgas outlet 22 that is helical about acentral axis 28 ofvertical tank 12. Baffle 26 has anupper surface 30 that is angled downward fromcentral axis 28 towardside wall 14. As can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3 ,upper surface 30 ofbaffle 26 angles down fromcentral axis 28 towardside wall 14 at an angle (θ) of about 30 degrees. This angle may vary to optimize the flow, but is preferably between about 25 to about 35 degrees. -
Baffle 26 terminates in atrough portion 32 at a lower edge 34. Usingtrough portion 32, liquid that is collected flows down alongbaffle 26 andside wall 14 towardliquid outlet 24. As shown inFIG. 2 ,trough portion 32 is preferably V-shaped, however,trough portion 32 could have any shape useful for collecting fluid and directing its flow, such as a square trough shown inFIG. 3 , or other shapes as will be understood by one skilled in the art. It has been found that the V-shaped channel has some benefits in directing the collected fluids and in connecting to adrain line 38 that may be used asliquid outlet 24. While it is also possible to have a drain at the bottom oftank 12, such as is shown schematically inFIG. 1 , it may be preferable to use a drain line thattrough portion 32 feeds into directly. This reduces the amount of standing liquid at the bottom oftank 12 that may he picked up again by the gas moving through the tank towardgas outlet 22, which reduces the effectiveness ofseparator 10. There may also be a secondliquid outlet 40 at the bottom oftank 12 in addition totrough portion 32 that tallows any liquids that were not collected bytrough portion 32 to also be removed. Preferably,trough portion 32 is designed to connected easily to the drain line. It will be understood thattrough portion 32 may change size and shape as it progresses thoughtank 12. For example, astrough portion 32 approaches the drain line ofliquid outlet 24, it may change to a more convenient shape, or it may increase in size as more liquid will have accumulated. In the depicted embodiment,collection tank 25 receives fluid fromdrain line 38, secondliquid outlet 40 and any liquids that may accumulate ingas outlet 22. - It will be understood that, as
baffle 26 is angled, there is a natural trough that is formed betweensidewall 14 andbaffle 26. While a more defined anddeeper trough portion 32 helps collect and redirect more liquid, it will be understood that a similar, while less pronounced benefit may be achieved by the natural trough portion that would be formed betweenbaffle 26 andside wall 14. Preferably, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 , the far side of anytrough 32 should be below thepoint 36 wherebaffle 26 would normally intersectside wall 14, as represented by the broken line. It may be possible to define atough portion 32 that is not below this point, however it will be understood that the effectiveness of the trough will be reduced. - In addition to
baffle 26, there may be a section at the bottom oftank 12 that is filled withparticulate 44. This may help to remove any further liquid in the gas stream. -
Separator 10 can be used to separate liquid from gas in a fluid flow. When a fluid that has both gas and entrained liquid is introduced intotank 12 throughinlet 20, the fluid flows along the helical flow path defined bybaffle 26. Asbaffle 26 is angled downward, the fluid experiences two forces. Centrifugal forces act on the fluid as it flows aroundbaffle 26 and the heavier liquid particles are forced away from the gas particles, separating the flow. As well, the pressure of the fluid drives the fluid flow down the tank, and the liquid flows intotrough portion 32. This allows the liquid to be collected at the bottom oftank 12 and removed fromtank 12 throughliquid outlet 24. The gas can also be collected after separation throughgas outlet 22. - in this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.
- The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
Claims (10)
1. A separator for a gas stream, comprising:
a vertical tank having a side wall, a top and a bottom;
the tank having an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank;
a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle being arranged to define a flow path between the inlet and the gas outlet, the flow path being helical about a central axis of the vertical tank,
the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wail of the vertical tank; and
the baffle terminating in a trough potion at a lower edge.
2. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the baffle is at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
3. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the trough portion comprises a groove that extends below the upper surface of the baffle.
4. The separator of claim 3 , wherein the trough portion is a V-shaped groove.
5. The separator of claim 1 , wherein the liquid outlet comprises a drain line connected directly to the trough portion.
6. A method of separating liquid from gas in a fluid flow, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a vertical tank having a side wall, a top, a bottom, an inlet, a gas outlet, and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet being located at the bottom of the tank;
placing a helically arranged baffle within the vertical tank, the baffle having an upper surface that is angled downward from the central axis toward the side wall of the vertical tank, the baffle terminating in a trough portion at a lower edge;
introducing a fluid comprising gas and liquid to the tank through the inlet;
flowing the fluid on a helical flow path about a central axis of the vertical tank using the baffle;
separating the fluid into the gas and the liquid, the liquid travelling down the upper surface of the baffle into the trough portion; and
collecting the gas from the gas outlet and the liquid from the liquid outlet.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the upper surface of the baffle is at an angle of 25 to 35 degrees.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the trough portion comprises a groove that extends below the upper surface of the baffle.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the trough portion is a V-shaped groove.
10. The separator of claim 9 , wherein the liquid outlet comprises a drain line connected directly to the trough portion.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/339,513 US20160008752A1 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2014-07-24 | Vertical gas/liquid phase separator |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201462023357P | 2014-07-11 | 2014-07-11 | |
US14/339,513 US20160008752A1 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2014-07-24 | Vertical gas/liquid phase separator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20160008752A1 true US20160008752A1 (en) | 2016-01-14 |
Family
ID=55063423
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/339,513 Abandoned US20160008752A1 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2014-07-24 | Vertical gas/liquid phase separator |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20160008752A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2857672A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016004504A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11058981B2 (en) * | 2016-07-12 | 2021-07-13 | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation | Inline water separators |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20230078731A1 (en) * | 2020-05-22 | 2023-03-16 | Dryline Technologies Lp | Method and apparatus for separating gas from liquid |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2082863A (en) * | 1935-11-11 | 1937-06-08 | Master Separator And Valve Com | Oil and gas separator |
US2229860A (en) * | 1938-11-14 | 1941-01-28 | Mccurdy Howard | Helical centrifugal separator |
US2248061A (en) * | 1938-05-16 | 1941-07-08 | Donald D Burch | Liquid treating apparatus |
US2271642A (en) * | 1936-12-28 | 1942-02-03 | Holzwarth Gas Turbine Co | Method and apparatus for purifying gases |
US2753954A (en) * | 1953-07-21 | 1956-07-10 | American Radiator & Standard | Moisture separator |
US3339350A (en) * | 1965-05-28 | 1967-09-05 | Monsanto Co | Gas-liquid separator |
US3349548A (en) * | 1964-01-22 | 1967-10-31 | C C Ind | Cyclone separator for separating steam from water |
US3775948A (en) * | 1972-01-18 | 1973-12-04 | J Beam | Device for cleaning exhaust products |
US4375386A (en) * | 1981-05-07 | 1983-03-01 | The Badger Company, Inc. | Cyclonic entrainment separator for evaporator |
US4678588A (en) * | 1986-02-03 | 1987-07-07 | Shortt William C | Continuous flow centrifugal separation |
US5113671A (en) * | 1990-11-26 | 1992-05-19 | Ac&R Components Components, Inc. | Oil separator |
US6019825A (en) * | 1995-10-18 | 2000-02-01 | Gnesys, Inc. | Hydrocyclone gas separator |
US20150206606A1 (en) * | 2014-01-17 | 2015-07-23 | Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas Llc | Steam separator and nuclear boiling water reactor including the same |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB303599A (en) * | 1927-11-02 | 1929-01-10 | Frederick Knox Ouseley Moynan | Improved construction of steam dryer for boilers and the like |
US2300129A (en) * | 1940-11-04 | 1942-10-27 | Mccurdy Howard | Helical flow separator |
GB9106574D0 (en) * | 1991-03-27 | 1991-05-15 | Bagghley Jack | Improvements in or relating to material treatment apparatus |
US7931740B2 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2011-04-26 | The Boeing Company | Cyclone separator |
-
2014
- 2014-07-22 WO PCT/CA2014/050695 patent/WO2016004504A1/en active Application Filing
- 2014-07-22 CA CA2857672A patent/CA2857672A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2014-07-24 US US14/339,513 patent/US20160008752A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2082863A (en) * | 1935-11-11 | 1937-06-08 | Master Separator And Valve Com | Oil and gas separator |
US2271642A (en) * | 1936-12-28 | 1942-02-03 | Holzwarth Gas Turbine Co | Method and apparatus for purifying gases |
US2248061A (en) * | 1938-05-16 | 1941-07-08 | Donald D Burch | Liquid treating apparatus |
US2229860A (en) * | 1938-11-14 | 1941-01-28 | Mccurdy Howard | Helical centrifugal separator |
US2753954A (en) * | 1953-07-21 | 1956-07-10 | American Radiator & Standard | Moisture separator |
US3349548A (en) * | 1964-01-22 | 1967-10-31 | C C Ind | Cyclone separator for separating steam from water |
US3339350A (en) * | 1965-05-28 | 1967-09-05 | Monsanto Co | Gas-liquid separator |
US3775948A (en) * | 1972-01-18 | 1973-12-04 | J Beam | Device for cleaning exhaust products |
US4375386A (en) * | 1981-05-07 | 1983-03-01 | The Badger Company, Inc. | Cyclonic entrainment separator for evaporator |
US4678588A (en) * | 1986-02-03 | 1987-07-07 | Shortt William C | Continuous flow centrifugal separation |
US5113671A (en) * | 1990-11-26 | 1992-05-19 | Ac&R Components Components, Inc. | Oil separator |
US6019825A (en) * | 1995-10-18 | 2000-02-01 | Gnesys, Inc. | Hydrocyclone gas separator |
US20150206606A1 (en) * | 2014-01-17 | 2015-07-23 | Ge-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas Llc | Steam separator and nuclear boiling water reactor including the same |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11058981B2 (en) * | 2016-07-12 | 2021-07-13 | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation | Inline water separators |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2857672A1 (en) | 2016-01-11 |
WO2016004504A1 (en) | 2016-01-14 |
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Legal Events
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |